The Supreme Court has agreed to weigh in on a contentious debate: should those who earn their degrees through correspondence programs be barred from enrolling as advocates?
The case centers on STS Gladies, a graduate of Kakatiya University’s Bachelor of Arts program in 2012, who completed her studies via correspondence. Gladies sought enrolment with the Bar Council of Telangana but faced rejection, prompting her to appeal the decision.
The Telangana High Court upheld the Bar Council’s stance, citing past rulings to assert that a correspondence degree does not meet the qualifications for lawyer enrolment. Gladies, undeterred, escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.
On Monday, a Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice PB Varale agreed to hear the appeal. The Court has directed the Bar Council of Telangana and the Bar Council of India to submit their responses within four weeks.
This decision could have far-reaching implications for correspondence degree holders seeking legal careers. Whether the Supreme Court will overturn the restrictive interpretation of educational qualifications remains to be seen.
